Ferry route planner
Ferries from the UK to Ireland and Northern Ireland
Ferries to Ireland leave from five British ports. Holyhead in north Wales is the main route to Dublin; Fishguard and Pembroke in south Wales sail to Rosslare; Cairnryan in south-west Scotland is the short crossing to Northern Ireland; and Liverpool has an overnight-length sailing to Belfast. The table is sorted from the shortest crossing to the longest.
UK to Ireland Ferry Routes Map
Every UK to Ireland crossing on FerryConnect. Select a route on the map, or compare them in the table below.
Ferries to To Northern Ireland
| Route | Operator | Typical crossing | Cars | Foot | Pets | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairnryan → Larne | P&O Ferries | 2h | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Times & booking → |
| Cairnryan → Belfast | Stena Line | 2h 15m | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Times & booking → |
| Belfast → Liverpool (Birkenhead) | Stena Line | 8h | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Times & booking → |
Pets ✓ means at least one operator carries pets on the crossing under its own rules (in the vehicle, a kennel, a lounge or a pet cabin). Foot ✓ means at least one operator takes foot passengers. Rules differ by operator: see each route page.
Ferries to To the Republic of Ireland
| Route | Operator | Typical crossing | Cars | Foot | Pets | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fishguard → Rosslare | Stena Line | 3h 15m | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Times & booking → |
| Holyhead → Dublin | Irish Ferries, Stena Line | 3h 15m | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Times & booking → |
| Pembroke Dock → Rosslare | Irish Ferries | 4h | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Times & booking → |
Pets ✓ means at least one operator carries pets on the crossing under its own rules (in the vehicle, a kennel, a lounge or a pet cabin). Foot ✓ means at least one operator takes foot passengers. Rules differ by operator: see each route page.
Crossing times are typical ranges from operator timetables and vary by ship, direction and season; each route page shows its own sources and verification date.
Shortest crossing: Scotland to Northern Ireland
From Cairnryan, P&O Ferries runs 6 daily crossings to Larne in 2 hours, and Stena Line offers a choice of 12 daily sailings to Belfast in 2 hours 15 minutes. These are the quickest sea crossings to the island of Ireland.
Wales to Dublin and Rosslare
Holyhead to Dublin is the busiest route: Stena Line sails 8 times a day in 3 hours 15 minutes, and Irish Ferries adds four cruise-ferry sailings a day each way. In south Wales, Stena Line offers 4 sailings daily from Fishguard to Rosslare, and Irish Ferries runs 2 crossings a day from Pembroke to Rosslare, port to port in just over 4 hours.
Liverpool to Belfast
Stena Line runs up to 4 direct sailings a day between Liverpool and Belfast, taking 8 hours, with a choice of day and night crossings: a way to avoid the drive to Scotland or Wales from the north of England.
Operators
UK to Ireland Ferry FAQs
What is the shortest ferry from the UK to Ireland?
Cairnryan to Larne, at 2 hours with P&O Ferries (6 crossings a day), or Cairnryan to Belfast at 2 hours 15 minutes with Stena Line (12 sailings a day). Both go to Northern Ireland.
How long is the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin?
Stena Line says 3 hours 15 minutes, with 8 sailings a day. Irish Ferries also sails the route, with four cruise-ferry sailings a day each way.
Which ferry goes from England to Ireland?
From England, Stena Line sails Liverpool to Belfast (8 hours, up to 4 a day). Most other Irish Sea ferries leave from Wales (Holyhead, Fishguard, Pembroke) or Scotland (Cairnryan).
Checked 2026-10-03 against: Stena Line: Holyhead–Dublin · Stena Line: Cairnryan–Belfast · Stena Line: Fishguard–Rosslare · Stena Line: Liverpool–Belfast · P&O Ferries: Cairnryan–Larne · Irish Ferries: Rosslare–Pembroke · Irish Ferries: Dublin–Holyhead. Policies change; confirm with the operator before booking.